Nashville, TN (December 6, 2023) – The Academy of Country Music® announced today an increase in Academy membership to more than 5,000 professional members, which marks the Academy’s highest membership count since membership numbers were tracked and a major milestone for the powerhouse global trade association. Newly accepted and renewed members qualify to vote for the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards, which is set to return to Texas this May and will stream exclusively on Prime Video for a third consecutive year. Additionally, Academy members gain access to a suite of benefits including early access to tickets for ACM events, discounts on industry partner events, industry data insights, monthly educational and networking events, acclaimed seasonal magazine ACM Tempo, and more.
In the leadup to today’s historic announcement, new ACM members including artists, songwriters, producers, and industry professionals visited the Academy’s Nashville headquarters in the Wedgewood Houston neighborhood to share their excitement about joining the Academy of Country Music community. Additional videos and content series will be released throughout 2024, to continue to tell the story of the new class and shine a spotlight on the pivotal role the Academy plays in the lives, careers, and artistic pursuits of the Country Music industry.
“Today is an extremely proud day for the Academy of Country Music as we celebrate record-high membership with more than 5,000 members worldwide,” said ACM CEO Damon Whiteside. “The Academy’s membership becomes more diverse and inclusive, as well as international, every year, reflecting the landscape of the genre, and allowing the ACM to better serve as a powerhouse advocate for artists and our industry all over the globe.”
“I couldn’t be happier to celebrate and welcome our new and renewed members today and look forward to working with them in the year ahead,” said Haley Montgomery, Senior Manager, Awards and Membership. "We are proud to offer our industry a slew of exceptional benefits through their membership in the Academy of Country Music, and without a doubt, one of the most exciting is the ability to vote for the ACM Awards. Submissions for the 59th ACM Awards open in January and voting begins in February, and we encourage all members to participate and play an active role in shaping the future of Country Music through their votes.”
The Academy of Country Music has furthered its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) by inviting members to keep diversity top of mind when referring potential new members. The ACM believes that having a membership base comprised of a vast array of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives makes for a much richer, robust, and innovative ACM experience. The Academy’s DEI mission statement reads, “The Academy of Country Music is relentlessly committed to creating a more inclusive environment for underrepresented groups in the Country Music industry, from the boardroom to the stage.”
For more information on membership with the Academy of Country Music, please visit the ACM Membership platform at: www.acmcountry.com/membership">https://www.acmcountry.com/membership.
Special thanks to the artists, songwriters, producers, and industry professionals featured in the video:
- Jackie Augustus, Country & Folk Artist Partnerships, Spotify
- Amy Brown, On-Air Personality, iHeart Radio
- >Colbie Caillat, Artist-Songwriter
- Jared Conrad, Songwriter-Producer
- CeCe Dawson, Creative Director
- Hannah Ellis, Artist-Songwriter
- The Kentucky Gentlemen, Artist-Songwriters
- Morgan Mills, Marketing Director
- Caroline Munsick, Artist Manager
- Ian Munsick, Artist-Songwriter
- Erika Wollam Nichols, COO/General Manager, Bluebird Cafe
- Adi Sharma, Co-Head & Agent, The Neal Agency
- Matt Stell, Artist-Songwriter
- Cole Taylor, Songwriter
About the Academy of Country Music:
Founded in Southern California in 1964 as a regional trade organization, the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC (ACM) has grown in the almost-60 years since into a leading association for the Country Music industry. Now headquartered in Nashville, TN, and boasting a record-high membership of more than 5,000 worldwide, the Academy serves as a powerhouse advocate for Country fans, artists, and all facets of the business, as well as a supporter of philanthropic work through charitable partner ACM LIFTING LIVES, dedicated to improving lives through the power of music and providing aid in times of need, with a focus on health initiatives. 2023 has been another monumental year for the Academy, with the 58th ACM Awards, hosted by global superstars Dolly Parton and Garth Brooks, ranking as one of the most-watched awards shows of the year. 2024 will see the ACM Awards return in May to the world headquarters of the Dallas Cowboys in Texas for a second consecutive year, and stream live for a global audience on Prime Video. The Academy also remains relentlessly committed to creating a more inclusive environment for underrepresented groups in Country Music, from the boardroom to the stage, and proudly presents both ACM LEVel Up, a two-year professional development and enrichment curriculum for rising leaders, and OnRamp, a guaranteed income program for Black members of the Nashville music community, in partnership with the Black Music Action Coalition. For more information, visit ACMcountry.com or ACMLiftingLives.org.
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